A travel agent is hoping her new business venture will plug a gap in the market when she opens this weekend.

Owner and founder Kathryn Clegg is sure that customers are willing to pay for expert travel advice, despite a struggling economy.

She will open Baildon Travel on Saturday at Airedale House in the village and is pledging to support local charities by donating £1 from every booking made.

For the first three months, that money will go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance and local groups and charities are invited to put their names forward to be the next to receive the cash.

Mrs Clegg said she wanted to support organisations which may be losing out following the cancellation of this year’s village carnival which had to be called off earlier this month by the organisers.

Builders William Ellis and Sons had to cancel the event, held in July, due to red tape and the economic climate, but hope it can be resurrected next year.

Mrs Clegg said: “The cancellation of the carnival has been a massive blow to the village. We want to help the community groups who rely on the carnival for funds, and that’s why we’ve pledged to give £1 from every booking to local charities.”

Despite many travellers going online to find cheap holidays, Mrs Clegg feels many people still want a more personal service.

She said: “We offer something that people won’t find on the web. Our research has shown that customers want to deal with a person, not an anonymous website.

"We can book everything from country cottages to round-the-world trips and have the experience and knowledge to make holidays happen without a hitch.”

The last travel agency in the village closed more than eight years ago.

Mrs Clegg is a long-time Baildon resident and previously worked for Going Places and First Choice and is returning to the industry after a career break to raise her children.

Residents are invited to drop in and enjoy a glass of fizz to celebrate the opening on Saturday when Yorkshire Air Ambulance will also be there.